Wait

When I was in Bible School, the word "wait" came up so often in lectures that it became our year's theme. At the end of school, several of us formed the word on the lawn and were "aerial" photographed from a tower. A long lost picture, unfortunately.  Hence, my alphabet noodle art.

I tend to wait impatiently or dismally. Especially when it's indefinite. I'm often tempted to mope about what is unresolved. I squander the moment I'm in. Sometimes I leap ahead and take charge where I shouldn't and have to make apologies. It's too easy for me to take initiative in general but there are times when it's just plain wrong. Mostly, actually, just too hasty.

Been thinking about initiative taker Achan in Joshua 7.  He saw what he wanted, was able to take it and did. But the timing was wrong. He'd been warned.  Given boundaries that he ignored. He and his whole family died for it.  Just one chapter and one city later, God gives the Israelites permission, carte blanche, if you will, to take whatever plunder they want.  Things go better with sticking to God's timing.  Sometimes, though not always, the waiting is much shorter or less costly than we expect.